Traditional song and dance connects Pacific learners to their roots

The final act of the night was performed by a combined effort from Ashburton College, Rolleston College and Hillmorton High School.

The Sau Ia Festival is Tagata Mai Saute Academy’s biggest event to date, bringing together more than 20 primary and secondary schools across the Canterbury region to celebrate through the medium of performing arts, in turn bringing more visibility of Pacific values and culture in schools.

This year, they decided to take out the competitive aspect of the festival and encourage collaboration, with the focus on building a community between Pacific learners, their families and the schools they are a part of.

Sau Ia Festival is just one of the many successful initiatives of Tagata Mai Saute Academy. Artistic director Albany Heperona Peseta shares why he started the programme.

“I felt like there were limited resources in terms of cultural programmes, especially in our schools, and just seeing the effects of the students not having a sense of belonging in schools, or they’re feeling torn of not knowing where they belong within their culture, with two cultures or many cultures.

Ākonga performing as part of Vasega Manu, comprised of three primary schools in Christchurch.

“I felt it was really, really important to start something where students can learn about our values as Pasifika, understand what it is to be Pasifika, and how we can be Pasifika in a classroom.”

Meeting a need

Alongside tutor Faith Leipapati-Saimoa Taula, they have discovered a strong need for the work that they do.

“Faith has been part of our programme for two years. We share the same passion around our people and our young people especially.

“We’ve also got our backgrounds in dance, and we just thought that, in terms of our vision, working together aligned with starting this programme.”

Albany says that being in 20-plus schools over this time shows the need for the programme and what it achieves.

“The number of students who are part of this shows the reason why it needs to be there.”

Seeing the impact

After working in various locations, they now have three classrooms to use at the Climate Action Campus in Avonside, a sign of their continuous growth.

Vasega Manu filled the Aurora Centre with their beautiful singing and dancing.

“Our community have been massive supporters in terms of this whole programme. We see and hear when we go to church or events that their child is always singing the song, or they’re practising the sāsā, or they’ve never spoken the language or said ‘Talofa’ in their home or worn ie lavalava, and now all of a sudden they want to wear an ie lavalava every single day.”

Albany reiterates the importance of family involvement.

“For us, if we can get the families involved, the families will then understand what the children are doing in school, but also some of the things they might struggle with.

“When they do come through to the fono, or the meetings, or some of the talks that we have, then they understand, it’s not just about song and dance, and they’re not wasting their time learning a song that they should already know.

“It’s about learning about the values, the essence of communication, and talking with groups, and just being in a space where they can be themselves. And that’s been a positive outcome for us.”

Supporters

Vaesega Moana, comprising of three local schools, kept the lively energy of the night going with their performance.

Albany also comments on what the support from Siatua Evalu, previous lead advisor Pacific engagement in Ōtautahi, and the Ministry of Education’s Pacific Education Support Fund has meant for them.

Closing off the night with a traditional Samoan Taualuga.

“If it wasn’t for them, there would definitely be no programme. From the very beginning, when Sia was in the role, he’s been a massive supporter and a massive advocate for our academy. And I’ve always acknowledged Sia, because he gave us a shot, he gave us a chance. And from that, we were blessed to be given what we were given. And we’ve just taken it and tried to run with it. And you know, whatever resources we could get, we’ve stretched it.

“The Ministry has given us our first shot. And now that we have grown this partnership for three years, it’s been nothing but positives, because they’ve seen it and schools have also seen it and they continue to back us.” 

To keep up with the work Tagata Mai Saute Academy do, look them up on Facebook and Instagram. To hear more from this interview with Albany Heperona Peseta and Faith Leipapati-Saimoa Taula, keep an eye on Education Gazette podcasts at educationgazette.podbean.com(external link).

An Untold Story weaves Pacific cultures together

In August, over one hundred students from schools across Ōtautahi Christchurch came together to creatively communicate the challenges young Pacific people face growing up – demonstrated through song, dance, and an expressive narrative.

Untold Story is a play which aims to elevate the young Pacific voices in Ōtautahi. The story follows two young Pacific people from different cultural backgrounds – Samoan and Tongan. The pair fall in love, yet a myriad of barriers block their spirit, making them question their identities and where they belong.

“It’s an untold story about their relationship, something that is not really talked about within the Pacific community at a young age. It’s about knowing where you come from and not forgetting your roots,” says play organiser Greg Galovale.

Greg has worked with Burnside High School's Pacific community over the last five years providing academic support for students.

“What we originally wrote (my partner and I), was stripped back. We didn’t want to say too much. But as soon as we shared it with the students and they got to share their opinions, we realised we need to have these difficult conversations in the story as it’s what they want, it’s relevant to the issues they are facing nowadays.”

The play specifically focuses on a Tongan woman’s role within her family and the cultural barriers she may be facing in comparison with a Samoan man’s role in his family.

The story was performed in three languages, with Lea Faka Tonga (Tongan) and Gagana Samoa (Samoan) shining through the scripted dialogue and the songs performed. This was a significant part of the play, making the students' native tongue accessible to everyone.

Belonging and connection

This year’s play was inspired by the uptake and enthusiasm given to another Pacific production performed the year before in which 10 schools were involved. This year, 18 secondary schools were involved; 17 in Christchurch, with one student travelling down to take part from James Cook High School in Auckland.

By giving young Pacific students a safe platform to express themselves, the play is helping to address some of the challenges they face every day off the stage; primarily the disconnect with identity.

“It’s important to make sure every Pacific student in Canterbury feels like they belong. With a sense of pride in their culture,” Greg says.

The play is also helping to face another challenge; collectively working together.

“Everyone has their own space and getting students from different schools to work together is quite difficult. It’s about getting everyone on the same page and for the same cause,” says Greg.

Burnside High School deputy principal Darryn Findlay says Untold Story allowed Canterbury schools to work together, without barriers.

Read the full version of this article at gazette.education.govt.nz.(external link)